title: Development of flow cytometric protocol for nuclear DNA content estimation and determination of chromosome number in Pongamia pinnata L., a valuable biodiesel plant.
abstract: The potentiality of Pongamia pinnata L. as a sustainable source of feedstock for the biodiesel industry is dependent on an extensive knowledge of the genome structure of the plant. Flow cytometry, with propidium iodide (PI) as the DNA stain, was used to estimate the nuclear DNA content of P. pinnata, with respect to Zea mays 'CE-777' as standard. The internal and pseudo-internal standardization was followed on account of the inhibitory effect of secondary compounds on PI intercalation. The antioxidants (PVP-40 and β-mercaptoethanol) were added to the nuclear isolation buffer for the reduction of inhibitory effect of P. pinnata cytosol. Nuclear DNA content estimation was done for P. pinnata leaves from different altitudes (37-117 m height from sea level) of Assam. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that the nuclear DNA content of P. pinnata is 2.66 pg with predicted 1C value of 1,300 Mb using Z. mays as standard. Coefficient of variation in flow cytometric analysis was within the limit of 5 % indicating that the results were reliable. Somatic chromosome numbers were counted from root-tip cells and was found to be 2n = 22 corresponding to the diploid level (x = 11). A decreasing trend in the nuclear DNA content was observed for the species of different altitudes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India, 781 039.
authors.forename: Aadi Moolam
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.forename: Supriyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basak
authors.forename: Rimjhim Roy
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.forename: Latha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rangan
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D056804:Biofuels; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D052596:Pongamia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012015:Reference Standards
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D056804:Biofuels; D018744:DNA, Plant